Pitching In to the Isthmian League: Lowestoft Town

1. Tell us how you became a fan? What attracted you to the club initially?

It was 1986 and I was about 12 years old when I went to my first Lowestoft Town match against Newmarket Town. I went to the game with my friend, and this was my first experience of a proper match. I got the programme signed by all the players from both sides after the game and still have it somewhere in my large collection today. It was then I started to follow Ipswich Town, home and away, for many seasons.

2. And what is it about the club that has kept you there since?

It's the thrill of the ups and downs of non league football. I have been lucky, following the team to promotion in the play-off finals at the 3rd attempt, and winning the final at home made it special.
Getting into Conference North a few years back, the away trip to Wrexham in the F.A. Cup 1st Round, and even a day out at Wembley in the F.A. Vase Final even though we lost. It's also the people you meet from all walks of life that makes it special.

I was lucky enough to be Press-Officer for a couple of years and was also be involved on the club committee for a while. It certainly gave me an interesting insight into football club life. I have kept going off and on for over 30 years. I have a love of writing as well and wrote a book about Ipswich Town in 1997. More recently, I penned a quiz book called Football For Brains, which can be purchased from me or on Ebay. I make a donation from each book sold to Head4Change and The Scores Project. Both of these look into sporting head injuries and their links to the onset of dementia.

Very recently the 2022/2023 season took an exciting turn for east coast fans at the Crown Meadow as local side Gorleston FC, newly promoted into the same league, announced they will be ground sharing with Lowestoft Town.

3. What does a typical home matchday look like for you?

I go to the ground about 2pm and have a chat with friends. I usually stand in the same place along the side opposite the main stand. Sometimes I have a beer but most often it's a nice coffee.

4. Is there a moment in the history of your club that supporters always talk about? What would it be- and why is it important to you all?

Either the F.A. Vase Semi Finals games, home and away, or the winning play-off final after 2 previous defeats and doing it 3rd time lucky.

5. For the benefit of those who haven’t visited before, describe your ground.

The ground is based in Lowestoft, the most easterly town in the country. The ground holds 3,000 supporters, with seating for 466 and a small undercover standing area. The bar serves local beers, there is a tea hut that serves snacks, chocolate, homemade pies and cakes and you can also get hot food at the far end of the ground.

6. If an away fan was travelling to your ground for the first time, how would you recommend they got there? Tell us about parking and public transport.

Probably take the train to Lowestoft either from Norwich on the East Coast Line this takes about 45 minutes. The ground is in a fairly built up part of town so parking is down side roads, or the local college nearby. From the train station it is 0.7 miles which is approximately a 10 minute walk.

7. Are there any local sights or amenities you’d recommend they visit? Tourist attractions, pubs etc?

Amenities and local sights - Why not visit Africa Alive Zoological reserve, East Anglia Transport Museum, Pleasure Wood Hills or the Lowestoft and East Suffolk Maritime Museum. Lowestoft has a great sandy beach which boasts two piers. Who can leave Lowestoft without sampling some local fish and chips!?

8. Finally, pie, burger or pint? What would you recommend, and why?

A local pint of Trawlerboys if you like real ale.

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